Agriculture

According to the USDA, agricultural practices are responsible for 80% of the water usage in the US. Conservational practices and techniques should be integrated into farming practices so that a fundamental impact and systemic change may be felt. Some of the major facets for agricultural changes are centered around efficient and intelligently designed irrigation systems that reduce water need. Another change is finding effective distribution of food products so that we can minimize food waste, which results in less need for agriculture. Beyond mere water consumption, harsh chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides are being used by farms. This is a cause for concern because these chemicals are introduced into nearby rivers and streams via surface runoff. The runoff ultimately makes its way into the ocean.

As a result, we have seen the development and continued spread of “dead zones” along many coastal regions of America. In particular these dead zones are seen in the Gulf of Mexico which is historically inhabited by an incredibly diverse collection of aquatic life forms and is a major supplier of the United States seafood industry. Cyclical changes in the size and extent of this dead zone have major economical effects. This also leads to shortages in U.S. seafood supply. This in turn increases demand for imports from other countries, particularly China. As consumers, this can be worrisome as there are often incredibly lax food safety laws in such countries. For more information about dead zones and how they are directly impacting your health and local communities, please visit: http://www.smm.org/deadzone/.